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III. The 3 "men" that visit Abraham/2 "men" that visit Lot
(Genesis 18-19)
A. Abraham sees the three men but addresses "the
Lord."
1. It may be helpful to point out that he had
talked with the Lord in chapter 17, though no
description was given.
2. At first glance, it could seem like reference to
the Trinity.
a. Three distinct people (persons) seem to be
referenced singularly.
b. This could help explain some related
passages in the Bible.
1) "Let us make man in our
image" (Genesis 1:26)
2) "Let us go down" (Genesis 11:7)
3) "these three are one" (1 John 5:7)
c. However, it is not likely that this is the
intended application here.
1) John says no man has seen God
(obviously reference to the Father)
(John 1:18)
2) Jesus says that no one has seen
the Father but that He and the Father
are one. (John 6:46, 8:9, 10:30)
B. 2 purposes of the visit
1. Deliver news about Sarah having a child in her
old age
a. Sarah laughs "in herself."
b. To her surprise, she is rebuked.
2. Observe the wickedness in Sodom and
Gomorrah
a. The Bible had already pointed out in
Genesis 13:13 that the men of Sodom
were wicked sinners.
b. Abraham knows that when they see the
wickedness they will destroy the city.
1) Interestingly, he is never told that by
the men, but he seems to assume.
2) Men always fear God's Judgment
when they have an accurate
understanding of who He is and how
He views sin.
C. 2 of the "men" leave and Abraham continues to talk
to the Lord.
1. After Abraham tries to negotiate with him
about sparing Sodom, we see the Lord depart
at the end of chapter 18.
2. These same two "men" are most likely the
angels mentioned in chapter 19 who appeared
to Lot in Sodom.
a. They are called men in chapter 18.
b. They are called angels in 19:1.
c. The men of Sodom call them "men" in
verse 5.
d. They are called men again in verses 10,11.
e. They are called angels again in verse 15.
f. They are called men again in verse 16.
Conclusion:
1. Two of the men mentioned are clearly angels as the
words are used interchangeably in this text.
2. One of the men is called the Lord.
3. The 3 men who visited Abraham were most likely 2
angels who accompanied an actual manifestation of
the Lord (the "Son," the "Word," the "Angel of the
LORD"...)
4. The 2 men who visited Lot were most likely the 2
angels that left while Abraham continued talking to the
Lord.
III. The 3 "men" that visit Abraham/2 "men" that visit Lot
(Genesis 18-19)
A. Abraham sees the three men but addresses "the
Lord."
1. It may be helpful to point out that he had
talked with the Lord in chapter 17, though no
description was given.
2. At first glance, it could seem like reference to
the Trinity.
a. Three distinct people (persons) seem to be
referenced singularly.
b. This could help explain some related
passages in the Bible.
1) "Let us make man in our
image" (Genesis 1:26)
2) "Let us go down" (Genesis 11:7)
3) "these three are one" (1 John 5:7)
c. However, it is not likely that this is the
intended application here.
1) John says no man has seen God
(obviously reference to the Father)
(John 1:18)
2) Jesus says that no one has seen
the Father but that He and the Father
are one. (John 6:46, 8:9, 10:30)
B. 2 purposes of the visit
1. Deliver news about Sarah having a child in her
old age
a. Sarah laughs "in herself."
b. To her surprise, she is rebuked.
2. Observe the wickedness in Sodom and
Gomorrah
a. The Bible had already pointed out in
Genesis 13:13 that the men of Sodom
were wicked sinners.
b. Abraham knows that when they see the
wickedness they will destroy the city.
1) Interestingly, he is never told that by
the men, but he seems to assume.
2) Men always fear God's Judgment
when they have an accurate
understanding of who He is and how
He views sin.
C. 2 of the "men" leave and Abraham continues to talk
to the Lord.
1. After Abraham tries to negotiate with him
about sparing Sodom, we see the Lord depart
at the end of chapter 18.
2. These same two "men" are most likely the
angels mentioned in chapter 19 who appeared
to Lot in Sodom.
a. They are called men in chapter 18.
b. They are called angels in 19:1.
c. The men of Sodom call them "men" in
verse 5.
d. They are called men again in verses 10,11.
e. They are called angels again in verse 15.
f. They are called men again in verse 16.
Conclusion:
1. Two of the men mentioned are clearly angels as the
words are used interchangeably in this text.
2. One of the men is called the Lord.
3. The 3 men who visited Abraham were most likely 2
angels who accompanied an actual manifestation of
the Lord (the "Son," the "Word," the "Angel of the
LORD"...)
4. The 2 men who visited Lot were most likely the 2
angels that left while Abraham continued talking to the
Lord.
